Bass tops Spivey, holds on to seat

State Rep. Eddie Bass (D-Prospect) was re-elected Tuesday in a close race with former Marshall County Commission Chairman Billy Spivey, the Republican challenger in a three-man race.

Bass won with 8,210 over Spivey's total of 7,171, for a margin of 1,039, according to unofficial results. Roop, the Independent candidate trailed with 330 votes that reveals his slice of the votes at two per cent. Bass won with 52 percent to 46 percent, or a six percent point margin.

"I will go ahead and predict a big Bass victory," Marshall County Democratic Party Chairman Chris Collins said at about 7:40 p.m. "If Eddie Bass is that close in early voting, then Spivey won't have the votes in Giles County to get elected."

About that time, Marshall County Republican Party Chairwoman Shirley Lowe was "watching for Billy Spivey" and not all of the results were in, but she noted it was Bass with 55 percent of the votes that were in.

Spivey did win 56.26 percent of the votes cast in Marshall County, but the rest of the district - Bass' home county where he served as sheriff until four years ago - is Giles County, perceived as a county where Democratic support is strong.

In Pulaski, after Ardmore results were added -- the last precinct to come in -- it was Bass 61.86 percent to Spivey's 36.14 percent, at about 9 p.m., when Spivey knew Bass had won.

"It looks as though we lost by 920 votes out of 14,000 cast," Spivey said, citing "rough numbers."

"It was worth every ounce of effort," he said of his campaign.

Calls to Bass' mobile phone were answered by a voice message saying his mailbox was full and that no more messages could be recorded. Calls to his home phone were not returned by press time.

"There's not a doubt in my mind that I've provided Marshall County with a better representative," Spivey said of the results of his campaign to unseat Bass. "I was glad to see Marshall stand behind me like it did."

Lowe said, "Marshall County went straight Republican and Bass won in Giles County."

Asked if he might run for political office again, Spivey said, "I'm ready for a break. I've enveloped myself in public life in Marshall County. Who knows what Marshall County will need in the future?

"My family just won an election," he said.

Precinct by precinct results for Marshall County are available in this edition. More reactions may be available on the web at marshalltribune.com as they are available.